Fiji leader's Forum stance called illogical

The leader of Fiji's opposition National Federation Party says the Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama should drop his belligerent stance over New Zealand and Australia's Forum membership.

Mr Bainimarama says Fiji will only resume its membership if New Zealand and Australia are dumped as members.

Fiji's post coup suspension from the Forum was lifted after it held elections last year but Suva wants other donors like China to be members if New Zealand and Australia remain.

But Dr Prasad says this is illogical.

"If he has any issues I think it would be appropriate for him to attend the Forum meeting and raise any issues he might have with Australia or New Zealand, and if he wants other countries to join the Forum then it is the Forum meeting which would be the right place for him to discuss this."

Dr Prasad says Mr Bainimarama fails to recognise how vitally important the traditional partners are to the Fiji economy.